Our Team

Our staff is the heart of the sanctuary. Every day, they provide compassionate, hands-on care to the animals who call our sanctuary home—ensuring their safety, comfort, and dignity for life. From daily feeding and medical care to facility maintenance, enrichment, and visitor education, our team works tirelessly behind the scenes to uphold the highest standards of animal welfare.

Laurie Jackson

Executive Director

Drawn to horses at a young age, Laurie transitioned from horse enthusiast to equine professional, building a strong foundation in equine facilities management. She has dedicated 13 years to the organization and has served as Executive Director for the past 10. Laurie believes an organization draws its strength from teamwork and community and leads with a collaborative approach that supports both people and animals.

Under her leadership, HTFAS has earned ASPCA Right Horse Adoption Partner status, achieved Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries accreditation, and was named a GFAS Outstanding Farm Animal Sanctuary in 2020. Laurie lives in Ohio with her husband and dog, Hoodoo, and found her right horse, Rhetoric, through the Right Horse initiative.

Lissy Kuhn

Director of Development

Lissy’s love for all animals began in childhood, growing up in Arlington, TX, where she first connected with horses through Golden Gates Stables at the age of four. Her passion for farm animals only grew stronger over the years. In 2009, while earning her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies at KSU, Lissy discovered a life-changing opportunity at Happy Trails. Here, she teamed up with wonderful people dedicated to creating a kinder world for animals and their communities. As a two-time HTFAS adopter, Lissy is grateful for all the joy the sanctuary has brought her both personally and professionally.

Audra Agnone

Placement Coordinator

Audra Agnone serves as the Placement Coordinator for HTFAS to find placement for in-transition and at-risk farm animals and horses. Raised around horses from birth, her experience runs the gamut beginning with gaited horses and jumpers mixing in Western pleasure and for the past several years focusing on barrel horses. Audra has a passion for expanding the equine program at HTFAS and works tirelessly to help ensure it runs at its best to help more horses and has increased the HTFAS equine adoption rate by 300%.
Audra and her husband have three children under six. She enjoys campfires and spending time outdoors. “My life is a little busy at times, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!”

Ilona Urban

Education & Outreach

Drawn to animals ever since she can remember, Ilona spent many years rescuing stray cats and dogs from the streets of Akron. As an Akron Public Schools art teacher, what animals she didn’t find on the streets her kids brought to her. After retirement, Ilona dabbled in animal shelter work, but the discovery of HTFAS changed her life as she began working with farm animals and horses.
“When you find your right place, you just know it, and working with this population of animals is something I plan to keep doing for years to come. Sharing the sanctuary with families, our supporters, children and teens brings me such joy. Once a teacher always a teacher and opening people’s eyes, minds and hearts to these incredible animals is what I love.”